The Hybrid

The Beast's Return

"So, what is causing the doom and gloom upon your fair land," Kadiba asked bluntly. Verloor sat down next to the lioness, Verlos, but not without Ed slightly glaring at him.

"Well, we were surprised as anyone about it," Ada began, "So we searched for the source of the dark cloudiness above. We actually thought it was one of the shards. We got to the middle of the Bermes Plain, just south of here."

"I remember there," Raven said with an almost traumatized groan. The Bermes Plain was this flat arid plain that was hard to stay more than five minutes in. A huge large oasis inhabited the middle of it, but the rocky desert was a discouraging maroon color because of the special sediment there. Freezing nights and scouring days, and Raven was only there because that's the edge of where she first came to this place. "So what's new there?"

"It's not the barren wasteland that it used to be," Verloor replied, "It was growing with lush vegetation when we got there. We followed vegetation all the way to the center. When we got there, we saw a green shining gem floating in the distance. We traveled to go and get it, but..."

"What happened?" Raven asked, noticing the sudden shiver the hyena gave.

"You aren't known for being easily afraid," Ed commented in a surprising cold manner. He was so focused on Verloor that he failed to notice Tigress's glare at him.

"We encountered a fearsome beast. Something that I've never seen before in my life," Lief explained while his hands flailed to describe it. "It was taller than Groot, fur all over it. It had deep green piercing eyes. It was faster than a Cheetah Animalist. And..." Lief hesitated. "It was stronger than Tigress."

"*GASP*" Po gasped, covering Tigress's ears, making the tiger surprised. "Lief, you know better than to say stuff like that!" Tigress rolled her eyes as she removed the panda's hands from her head.

"How could you tell?" Raven asked.

"It bent the sword I had," Verloor muttered.

"That's not really impressive," Tigress commented.

"With its finger," Verloor added. Tigress's eyes widened. Suddenly, a lightbulb lit in Raven's head.

"Wait, faster, stronger, and smarter than any animal you've encountered? But it can't fly?"

"No, which is a good thing, but since we don't have Volant here-"

"He wouldn't have been any help," Verloor interrupted Lief pessimistically, "He can fly, but what is the gift of flight to a beast that can hurl a boulder-like it's a piece of crumpled paper?" Ed noticed Raven's face. She looked at the ground, pensively thinking.

"Raven? What are you thinking?"

"The Beast."

"What?"

"The Beast. I think I know what the thing you're describing is. It was something that my friend back home could change into," Raven explained, surprising Ada, Lief, and Verloor.

"Your friend was really noteworthy if he could change into that!" Verloor exclaimed. Tigress growled in impatience.

"This isn't getting Raven any closer to her homeworld," She said.

"You're in a rush," Raven gently noted.

"Do you want to see your friends?" Tigress replied. The female woman stayed silent. "Now, where is this thing that's guarding the gem?"

"We'll prepare to travel there in the morning," Lief answered, "I think it's best that we get some rest first. Plus, Raven has to tell us all about her adventures."